* “Advocates of shutting down the Education Department and restoring local control celebrated the new bill, but called for a few amendments to ensure that the federal tentacles would not continue to exert influence over schools. Sheri Few, president of the national grassroots group United States Parents Involved in Education (USPIE), noted that her organization’s mission is actually to end the U.S. Department of Education and all federal mandates relating to education. “So, we are very pleased to learn of Rep. Massie’s bill and we are grateful to bill sponsors for taking the lead on this important issue,” Few said in a written statement.

“However, if we really want the feds out of the education business, we should advocate that ALL federal education programs be closed,” Few continued. “For example, closing USED without eliminating the federally funded testing consortia, leaves the potential for the consortia (SBAC and PARCC) to remain in their role as an institutional mechanism that perpetuates Common Core and the same re-branded national standards. Therefore, any effort to shut down USED must include a sunset of the federal testing consortia.”

The grassroots education group also recommended an amendment to the legislation that would require Education Secretary DeVos to present the department’s closure plan to Congress “for transparency and approval,” Few said. With state chapters across America, the group has been working hard to restore local control of education, in part by advocating an end to the U.S Education Department. The activists will continue working toward that mission in the months ahead. (This writer volunteers on the group’s advisory board). ” *